Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-29
STATE FAIR CLOSED
TIE ALEXANDRIA COMPANY GRIT THE
PRIZE WITHOUT COMPETING FORT.
Badge for the Blacksburg csdets-Bicycle
and Other Rsces-The Peek Com
bination.

day Of the twenty seventh annual exhi-
bition Of the Virginia State Agricultural
Society. The third day. like its two
predecessors, opened with damp pros
poets, and as the morning wore on rain
fell continuously but gently The day
was altogether more pleasant, as it was
warmer. but passage to aud within the
grounds was attended with great dis
comfort. The officers had very thought
fully had the walkways between the ex-
hibition halls cindered, and this proved
a great benefit and was fully appre-
ciated. This year the society has GER
tainly had to face the angry elements,
and by the warfare the former has
greatly suffered financially.
FAIR ATTENDANCE.
The rain almost entirely ceased fall
ing soon after Il O'Clock and the after
noon was much more pleasant Despite
the falling rain and the threatening APP
peaiances several hundred persons
made their appearance on the
grounds in the morning, and this
number was augmented to at
| iiNol @s'ND vi t,NDN beANit niIuts |
! All were impressed with the fact that
the society has done well its duty in
procuJingan exhibition which viii com
| pare iayorably with any seen within
this or any other southern State for
twenty years.
1t las never been more practically
demonstrated tEan now that the State
fairs are held too late. The eXhibi-
ton, especially OF stock, may be larger
after tie county and district fairs have
all been held, hut % week OF good,
pleasant weather after the l5tho OctO-
Der is rarely seen, aud in no other
month can the people turn out in
large numbers.
THE DRILLS.
The hour announced for the prize
drill was l. NJ, and at this time Cap
tain Nushback's company. OF Alexan-
dria, was present ready for the contest
No other company having entered, this
one performed about one half of the
movements which would have been re-
quired had there been competition. and
they were awarded the prize Of $3.50.
The company with twenty-four men
exclusive Of the guides, presented
very handsome appearance, aud their
dnlling VAS looked upon and enjoyed
by large number Of people.
In the matter Of competition between
the Virginia Military Institute and the
Blacksburg cadets, the former cadets
never having entered, the committee
decided to award gold medal t. the
Blackshurg cadets, who appeared on
the grounds, the gold medal to be re-.
taircd At the college t. be given each
year to the best-dr.iled company i'll
that corps.
TIE ETCICLISrS.
The bycicle races took place about
the same time, the first trial being a
mile race for the championship Of the
Old Dominion Wheel Club. The en-
tries were L. II. Hill, w. G. Long,
mounted on a light roadster, Columbia,
and Frank Il. Steel, riding a Star
Tho race was won by Long; Steel
second Time $40
Second trial-halt.mile dash. En-
tries, Alex. X. Schaap and ". q. Long
Won by Long in 2:3l.
Third trial onc-milc novice. En-
tries, Frank L. Steel, Il. w. AppersOn,
ard {. J.. Bowman. Won by Steel
Bowman second. Time $40.
TIE next trial was slow race-ono
hundred yards Entries, Schaap and
Long. Won by Long.
The slow time made in the races was
owing to tie heavy track.
TIE RACES.
1t has always been the case that the
last days programme embraced the best
races Of the Fair, and yesterday was no
exception to the rule. The course was
in even vorso condition than either on
Wednesday or Thursday, there being
more water. Unless there is improve
ment made in the management OF the
races here they will entirely lose their
popularity. Too much time is allowed
to be fooled away between heats, and rs
much time is consumed with three
races SIS seven should occupy. 4
decided reform IN this regard is i'm
perativO. Tho people who attend tho
Fair Ike to witness the races, and many
60 especially for this purpose, but they
do not want to spend half day about
the Grand stand and then not learn the |
resut Of one race where the contest
lies between two horses, rs was the
case yesterday.
THREE-YEAR-OLDs.
The first race was tue trotting one
for thrce-year postponed from
Thursday afternoon. This was called
soon after O'Clock In the first heat !
all Of the colts broke badly. Fannie
Wickham came in 'tirst in 3:09, with {
Huguenot second and Keizletown third.
In the second heat Fannie Wickham,
who held the pole from the beginning
came under the wire ahead, with Kitty
Wilkes q close second. KeizetOwn
scored third and Huguenot was dis
tanced. {
il was now generally conceded that :
Wickham would be an easy winner, but
the third round gave tho matter a do ,
cidedly new phase, as Wilkes showed {
up fresh and in better form, and beat |
Wickbam in 3:06i. The same was the
result in the fourth heat, which was the
last trotted before dark.
ST. JOHN THE WINNER. t
The second trial, the heats OF which
were sanduiched with the above race, I
was running mile heats, two in three, {
with $3.50 as the purse. For this there I
we've six entries. After several inehec- !
tual efforts had been made beautiful ]
start was gotten, and for the first quar- l
ter the horses kept all in a group.
Bere.they began to string out and st '
John took the lead, which he held until I
he came under the wire, winning the
heat in 81. Triple Cross was second, I
Seatick third, and the other three were 4
all distanced. The second and deciding {
heat resulted as the first, st. John be- Z
coming the winner in l:52l.
PROTESTS, &C. 5
In the third race, which was trotting, q
2:40 class, three in five, purse $500, '
WAS centered the chief interest Of the
day. II was conceded that the contest I
would be chiefly between Tribb, the 4
chestnut gelding, entered by 2. i. o
Gentry, of Richmond, and Kentucky Il
Girl, the bay mare Of J. ID. Mathews, a